Sunderland Reserves 1 Grimsby Town Reserves 0
Stu Vose
Blair Adams hit the only goal of the game as Sunderland cashed in on their dominance in possession against Grimsby in the Tote Cup at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.
The Academy youngster found the net just a minute after coming off the bench just before the hour, finishing Roy O'Donovan's through ball from close range.
Only a super display from Grimsby keeper Leigh Overton prevented Sunderland from adding to their tally as they created the vast majority of the scoring chances.
Despite Ben Wilson holding an attempted lob from Grimsby's Sean Evans early on, a young Sunderland side weakened by international call-ups had the better of the opening exchanges.
Missing Trevor Carson, Robbie Weir and David Meyler to under-21 duty, Keith Bertschin's outfit forced two good close-range saves from Town's Overton before the 20-minute mark, from Ryan Noble and Michael Kay respectively.
An opening goal didn't seem too far away when first team call-up Adam Reed stole in at the front post to head a Liam O'Mahoney cross inches over the top at the front post with Overton well beaten.
With the half-hour mark approaching, Luscombe and Liam Noble both came close as a quick-passing Sunderland side enjoyed the benefit of a surface made greasy by heavy pre-match rain.
Another feed from O'Mahoney sent Roy O'Donovan racing away down the right eight minutes before the break, but his rising drive from an acute angle found the side-netting. The Irish striker also fizzed an angled shot across the face of goal but couldn't find a team-mate at the back post.
Sunderland's best chance of the first period came in the final minute when Joe Cornforth headed a Luscombe corner goalwards from point-blank range only for the impressive Overton - keeping his team in the game - to block desperately with an outstretched leg almost on the goal-line.
Luscombe had to helped from the field early in the second half, being replaced by Adams before O'Donovan was denied again by Overton at close quarters.
But the Sunderland pair combined to fashion a fine opener just before the hour. O'Donovan's ball down the left-hand channel sent Adams galloping clear, and he steadied himself to coolly roll the ball beyond Overton on his near post to score just moments after coming on.
O'Donovan was unlucky not to add a second 10 minutes from time, bravely challenging Overton with a sliding challenge on the edge of the box and hooking a shot onto the top of the crossbar.
Adams could have made it two right at the death but was inches away from touching home Ryan Noble's cross at the far post.
SAFC Res: B Wilson, Kay, Brown, Reed, Madden, Cornforth, O'Mahoney (N Wilson, 84), L Noble, O'Donovan, R Noble, Luscombe (Adams, 53).
Subs Not Used: Bagnall, Misiewicz, Fletcher.
Booked: L Noble (73), Reed (76).
Sent Off: None.
Grimsby Res: Overton, Wood (Thanoj, 58), Widdowson, Deane, Gray, Moore, Jones, Boshell, Conlon (Fuller, 69), Akpa-Akpro (Smith, 81), Evans.
Subs Not Used: Heward, Peet.
Booked: Gray (31).
Sent Off: None.
Att: 349
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